Nicaragua Guide and Resources

Check for available hotels in Nicaragua

Location
Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Size Comparison To U.S-located Area
slightly smaller than the state of New York

Geographic Coordinates
13 00 N, 85 00 W

Capital
Managua

Nationality
Nicaraguan(s)

Currency
gold cordoba (NIO)

Languages Spoken
Spanish (official)

Population
5,023,818 (July 2002 est.)

Total Population Ratio Based On Gender
1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Migrant Ratio
-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic Groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religion Demographics
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant

Geographic Areas
Total :: 129,494 sq km
Land :: 120,254 sq km
Water :: 9,240 sq km
Coastline :: 910 km

Bordered By
Costa Rica, Honduras

Argentina Climate
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Natural Resources
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Natural Hazards
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Brief Geography Notes
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

Government
republic

Administrative Districts
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista)